Assisted migration: uncertainty, risk and opportunity

The recent Forestry Chronicle special section on the subject of Assisted Migration (AM) did a great service to the Canadian forestry community by summarizing the risks, opportunities and ecological aspects of this forest management strategy. In this paper, we expand on some aspects of AM that were discussed in the special section, as well as discussing additional dimensions of AM that should be considered and debated. We expand on the theme of scientific uncertainties around future warming, emphasizing the full extent of uncertainty in estimates of climate sensitivity. We also expand upon and summarize a number of recent ecophysiological results that have implications for the adaptation and acclimation of trees to climate change. We also discuss opportunities for innovative forest management, the influence of economic trends on the future of the Canadian forest industry, and limitations on public knowledge of climate change, all of which are factors that will influence the feasibility of AM schemes in the future.